Remote flow rate measuring

ABSTRACT

The methods and systems described herein can be used for remote measuring of flow rate from a multitude of different flow meters without requiring each flow meter to be capable of onboard processing and displaying of flow rate information. A single electronic device can be used to remotely measure the flow rate of a multitude of different flow meters.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/799,918, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Systems, methods and apparatus for remote flow rate measuring are described herein, and in particular, for remote flow rate measuring suitable for measuring flow rates in irrigation systems.

BACKGROUND

It can be desirable to provide a way to measure flow rate in a fluid system. For example, in an irrigation system it can be desirable to measure flow rate at one or more locations in order to determine operating characteristic of the system, including identifying leaks, confirming operation, and the like. This desire can be of particular interest for drip irrigation systems where one or more devices may be subsurface. This desire can also be of interest for irrigation systems with subsurface water supply lines.

One solution is to use a multitude of flow meters each individually capable of providing an output of the flow rate at each flow meter. For example a flow meter can measure the flow and use an onboard processor to perform a calculation to determine and display the flow rate. However, the cost of the flow meters, including the onboard processor and display, and limit the use of such flow meters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a flow turbine assembly;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the flow turbine assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the flow turbine assembly of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an electronic device for use with the system described herein, showing a display;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the electronic device of FIG. 5, showing a camera and light;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a processor, display, memory, camera and light of the electronic device of FIG. 4, as well as an accessible external memory;

FIGS. 7A-7C are exemplary images displayed on a screen for use with software for calculating flow rate according a first method;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of exemplary steps for calculating flow rate according to the first method;

FIGS. 9A-9C are exemplary images displayed on a screen for use with software for calculating flow rate according a first method; and

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of exemplary steps for calculating flow rate according to the first method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The methods and systems described herein can be used for remote measuring of flow rate from a multitude of different flow meters without requiring each flow meter to be capable of onboard processing and displaying of flow rate information. A single, handheld electronic device, such as a smart phone, tablet, laptop computer or the like, can advantageously be used to remotely measure the flow rate of a multitude of different flow meters, as will be described in detail herein.

The system can include the electronic device 10 and one or more flow meters 20. The electronic device can include a display 8, a processor 12, a memory 14, and a camera 16 and/or a light 18, as shown in FIGS. 4-6. In an exemplary form, depicted schematically in FIGS. 1-3, the flow meter 20 can include a housing 22 having an inlet 24 and an outlet 26 and flow path therebetween. The interior of the housing is divided into a portion 28 having the flow path and a portion 30 outside the flow path. The portion 28 of the housing 22 having the flow path includes a turbine 32, wheel or the like that rotates in response to the flow of fluid through the flow path. The portion 30 of the housing 22 outside the flow path includes a measured element 34 that is directly or indirectly driven for rotation by the turbine 32. The measured element 34 can be of any suitable configuration, such as a disc with markings, a fan or blades, a turbine, wheel or the like. The turbine can be magnetically coupled to the measured element, directly coupled via a shaft 36, or, in either circumstance, include a gear reducer or accelerator 38 therebetween.

In a first exemplary embodiment, measurement of the flow rate can include using the light 18 of the electronic 10 device to allow a user to visually observe a stroboscopic effect with respect to the measured element 34. More specifically, the light 18 of the electronic device 10 can be flashed at a variable frequency, such as an increasing frequency. When the user observes a stroboscopic effect of the measured element 34 at a specific frequency, the user can so indicate using the electronic device 10. The electronic device 10 can use the frequency of the light 18 flashing when the user indicated observing the stroboscopic effect to calculate the flow rate through the flow meter 20.

For example, and with reference to the schematic images of FIGS. 7A-7C and the flow diagram of exemplary steps of FIG. 8, the user can identify one or more properties of the flow meter 20, such as by pressing a button 40 on the display 8 of the electronic device 10, as will be described in further detail herein. The user can then initiate measuring by activating the light 18, such as by pressing a button 42 on the electronic device 10, and pointing the light 18 at the rotating measured element. When the stroboscopic effect is visually observed by the user, the user can press a button 42 on the electronic device 10 to so indicate. The electronic device 10 can then use the frequency of the light 18 flashing when the user indicated observing the stroboscopic effect to calculate the flow rate through the flow meter 20. The calculated flow rate can be displayed on the electronic device 10 and optionally either automatically saved or the user can press a button 44 on the device 10 to save the calculated flow rate, such as to a memory 14 of the electronic device 10 or an external memory accessible via a network.

In a second exemplary embodiment, measurement of the flow rate can include using the camera 16 of the electronic device 10 to record either a sequence of images or a video of the rotation of the measured element 34. The electronic device can analyze the images or video to calculate the flow rate through the flow meter 20.

For example, and with reference to the schematic images of FIGS. 9A-9C and the flow diagram of exemplary steps of FIG. 10, the user can identify one or more properties of the flow meter 20, as will be described in further detail herein. The user can then initiate recording by the camera 16, such as by pressing a button 42 on the electronic device, and pointing the camera 16 at the rotating measured element 34. The electronic device 10 can then record the images or video and analyze the same to calculate the flow rate through the flow meter 20. The calculated flow rate can be displayed on the electronic device 10 and optionally either automatically saved or the user can press a button 44 on the device 10 to save the calculated flow rate, such as to a memory 14 of the electronic device 10 or an external memory accessible via a network.

As discussed above, one of the steps in the method of measuring the flow rate can be to identify one or more properties of the flow meter 20. The properties can include location of the flow meter 20 or measured element 34 within a flow network, type of flow meter 20 or measured element 34, specific one of a flow meter 20 or measured element 34, predicted flow rate, prior measured flow rate, and/or past measured flow rate. The identification can occur in a variety of different ways. For example, a user can use the electronic device 10 to manually select the one or more properties from a variety of selections, such as from one or more menus displayed on the electronic device 10. In another example, a user can press a button 40 on the electronic device 10 to actuate an automated selection by the electronic device 10, i.e., using the camera 16 to read a bar or other code on the flow meter 26. Combinations of automated and manual selection can also be utilized.

The electronic device 10 can be of many different forms, including those mentioned above. Exemplary devices can include a display 8, one or more buttons 40-44 (which can be physical or electronically generated on the display) a processor 12, a memory 14 accessible by the processor, and a camera 16 and/or light 18. The processor 12 can control the camera 16 and light 18, access the memory 14 for selecting and executing programs, such as for performing the first and second exemplary embodiments discussed above, access the memory 14 and/or save to the memory 14 as part of identification of one or more properties of the flow meter 20, save to the memory 14 information regarding the rotational speed of the measured element 34, access prior to subsequently stored information regarding the rotational speed of the measured element 34, calculate the flow rate, and/or control indicia on the display 8. The processor 12 can also communicate with an external, such as networked, memory 15.

The processor 12 of the electronic device can use the calculated flow rate in a variety of manners. For example, the processor 12 can cause the display to depict the calculated flow rate, compare the calculated flow rate with a predicted or previously measured flow rate and provide results of the comparison on the display 8 (e.g., indicating whether the results are within 10%, 20%, 30% or more), and/or indicate on the display 8 whether the flow rate meets a predetermined criteria for acceptability.

While the foregoing description is with respect to specific examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations of the above that fall within the scope of the concepts described herein and the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of measuring of flow rate using a measured element rotating in response to flow and a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device comprising at least one of a smart phone, tablet or laptop and including a processor, the method comprising: identifying one or more properties associated with the measured element using the handheld electronic device; measuring rotational speed of the measured element using the handheld electronic device, including recording a plurality of sequential images or a video of the measured element as it rotates using a camera of the handheld electronic device; and calculating a flow rate using the one or more properties associated with the measured element and the rotational speed of the measured element using the processor of the handheld electronic device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a flow rate includes analyzing the recording of the images or video to determine the rotational speed of the measured element.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reducing the rotational speed of the measured element prior to the step of measuring the rotational speed of the measured element.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more properties include location of the measured element within a flow network, type of measured element, specific one of a measured element, predicted flow rate, prior measured flow rate, and/or past measured flow rate.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of saving data corresponding to the flow rate in a memory of the handheld electronic device.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing the flow rate to another flow rate stored in a memory of the handheld electronic device and outputting an indicator onto a display of the handheld electronic device corresponding to the degree of any difference.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling the measured element to a turbine in a fluid flow path such that rotation of the turbine in response to the flow rate of fluid through the flow path causes rotation of the measured element.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the measured element from one of a plurality of measured elements and repeating the method for a plurality of the measured elements.
 9. A method of measuring of flow rate using a measured element rotating in response to flow and a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device comprising at least one of a smart phone, tablet or laptop and including a processor, the method comprising: identifying one or more properties associated with the measured element using the handheld electronic device; measuring rotational speed of the measured element using the handheld electronic device; and calculating a flow rate using the one or more properties associated with the measured element and the rotational speed of the measured element using the processor of the handheld electronic device; wherein the step of measuring the rotational speed of the measured element includes the step of sequentially illuminating the measured element using a light of the handheld electronic device emitted at a variety of frequencies until a predetermined condition is met at one of the frequencies.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one of the frequencies is used in the step of calculating the flow rate.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined condition is a stroboscopic effect.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of using an input of the handheld electronic device for indicating to the processor that the predetermined condition has been met so the processor can utilize the one of the frequencies in calculating flow rate.
 13. A system for measuring of flow rate of different flow meters, the system comprising: a plurality of flow meters each having a measured element rotating in response to flow; and a handheld electronic device comprising at least one of a smart phone, tablet or laptop, the device having an input for use by a user to identify one or more properties associated with the measured element of one of the different flow meters, a memory and a camera for recording a plurality of sequential images or a video of the measured element as it rotates, and a processor for accessing the memory and analyzing the recording of the images or video to calculate the rotational speed of the measured element, and calculating a flow rate using the one or more properties associated with the measured element and the rotational speed of the measured element.
 14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a turbine in a fluid flow path coupled to the measured element such that rotation of the turbine in response to the flow rate of fluid through the flow path causes rotation of the measured element.
 15. A system for measuring of flow rate of different flow meters, the system comprising: a plurality of flow meters each having a measured element rotating in response to flow; and a handheld electronic device comprising at least one of a smart phone, tablet or laptop, the device having an input for use by a user to identify one or more properties associated with the measured element of one of the different flow meters, wherein the handheld electronic device includes a light that is illuminated at a variety of frequencies such that, in use, the light illuminates the measured element at the variety of frequencies until a predetermined condition is met at one of the frequencies.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined condition is a stroboscopic effect.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the handheld electronic device includes an input for indicating to the processor that the predetermined condition has been met so the processor can utilize the one of the frequencies in calculating flow rate.
 18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a memory to which the calculated flow rate can be stored and accessed by the processor, the memory including another calculated flow rate accessible by the processor for comparison. 